SINA Corporation (SINA) has been downgraded from Outperform to Neutral, indicating that the stock would be trading in line with the industry. The company is a leading provider of online media and value-added information services to the global Chinese community. Although SINA’s most recent quarter (second quarter) results beat Zacks Consensus Estimates, they have been down on a year-over-year basis. The company provided disappointing guidance, as customer caution is likely to be a hindrance to advertising spending, particularly the brand advertising segment. Economic growth in China has continued to slow down in the face of the protracted global economic downturn. Competition in the online brand advertising field in China is fierce, crowded by big players such as Sohu.com Inc. (SOHU), Shanda Interactive (SNDA) and Baidu, Inc. (BIDU). Moreover, uncertainty regarding the closure of the Focus Media Holding Ltd. (FMCN) acquisition poses ...